UK nursery automates

Netherlands-based Kees Greeve Greenhouse Projects has recently completed a greenhouse automation project for Pinetops Nursery after the company was forced to move to the former HRI Efford site after its former Livermans nursery west of Littlehampton was developed for housing.

Pinetops, which is run by brothers Ian and Stuart Paton, grows lilies, poinsettias and hellebores. In October last year the brothers also regained their title as the growers of the largest pumpkin in the UK.

KG Greenhouses says it is just putting the finishing touches to a fully automated container system which is combined with a visualisation program. This allows them to monitor all movements and pre-program the full cultivation cycle from the pot robots up to harvesting.